I have to say I totally agree. I completed a diploma in marketing a few years ago and I think the biggest lesson I took away from it was how much our subconscious's are being manipulated into making us desire things we really don't need.

Though it is yet to lead me into a job in marketing, am pretty sure studying the topic has saved me thousands in purchases that I didn't make simply because I was aware of how I was being targeted.

Then again, dishonest marketing and advertising have gone a long way to develop this kind of thinking with things like planned and perceived obsolescence, so perhaps I stand corrected.

Either way, the only way out of such a cage is with the key, and your key is different from anyone else's and your the only one that has it. So set yourself free.

There are plenty of honest marketers and advertisers out there doing great work to actually connect you with the things you really want and need in life, but, just like any other industry, there will always be more underhanded ones, trying to sweep their underhanded tactics under the rug. Buyer beware.

I would only comment to keep an eye out for those companies that actually are of higher quality. I can only speak to computer parts as it's my trade, but I know there's just more quality in certain seemingly identical products. The skill of balancing what "brand" name and what "no name" to buy is key! My guess is it's something like 10/90 in favor of no name though so it shouldn't be hard. Example: Buy Seagate hard drives, they are of higher quality.

Thanks for the great reminder that being able to fit a few really awesome perfect fit sorts of things in a bag and get up and go is way more fun than drowning in my closet trying to decide what slightly misfitted item I'll adorn today.

@NomadicNeil: Yup, you hit the nail on the head. It's a self-sustaining cycle and the full impact of the system didn't hit me until I became part of it!

@Diggy: Thanks Diggy! Yeah, there's no reason not to get things that you enjoy, but deciding on what those things that – what makes you happy at a core level, rather than the surface level that most advertisers work on – is the tricky part. Once you figure that out, though, it becomes a whole lot easier to buy less and get more value from what you DO buy. (PS: I have a Canon HF 1000 digital HD camcorder and it's been fantastic and I think just dropped in price!).

@Nate: Thanks a lot Nate Sounds like you've got it pretty well figured out. It's funny how taking the bulk out of your possessions enables you to get into a sort of scarcity mentality, where you don't need much, but you feel like what you do have should be pretty darn good. It's addictive, really, and I don't think I can ever go back to just having stuff to have it.

@James: Thanks! I struggled over what basics to address, since there is SO much to this topic, so I'm glad I managed to pick a few that are simple enough that people recognize them, but not so easy to think about because of, as you said, the controversy that surrounds them. There is a very sheeplike mentality to the whole marketing thing, and it's a really powerful force. For some reason the ease with which we can buy things, and the lack of thought required to do so, makes the entire process incredibly palatable. I'm hoping more awareness will slowly pull back the curtains a bit so that more people will begin to make purchasing decisions for themselves, instead of going into autopilot.

His fears and insecurities are more powerful than his logical thoughts, and he goes ahead and buys yet another fancy brand-name item in hopes there is some truth to the message that the girls will now find him more attractive.

The sheep huddle together and the bleating increases.

Awesome post man. I really understand what you mean about your knowledge of marketing causing you to pick apart every advertisement or marketing tactic that is thrown at you.

And I can really appreciate your strategy of not making low-value purchases. I've been doing this for the last month or so. By eliminating the little stuff, I can afford to get better "nice" stuff. I just recently began working on becoming more of a minimalist. 2/3 of my clothing is now in storage, where I can't get to it. I don't have much, but the stuff I have is really nice. It's kind of neat.

Cool post!